▼
Latest reviews
I like this album quite a lot.
"Pizzicato" has a very nice texture and has some good moments, but I don't think the composition is very strong. It is very repititious - some more musical variety would help the song. The synth flute sound adds a lot, but I think it comes too late in the song and leaves too abruptly.
"Berceuse de Julie" is really a nice song. The vocalist has good tonal qualities in her voice. It is not a very professional performance, but I don't mind that much. The accompaniment is brilliant. The song is short enough that the repetition is not bothersome.
"L'attente" has a wonderful opening and closing melody. I don't really like the middle part of the song.
"Jours de pluie" is another great melody, but I like where this song goes. This is one of my favorites.
"Antigone et Créon" seems to be a very emotional song for the artist, judging by the performance. It is very effective - especially the chromatic descents near the beginning. I quite like this song.
"Assise sur un banc" is one of my favorites. The vocal performance is amateur, but that doesn't matter much. It adds to the simplicity and charm, I think.
There are several very interesting songs on this collection.
"La danse de Fatima" is a good song to start the album. It introduces the Middle Eastern theme and the scales used on many of the album's tracks. It is a very sedate and understated piece, which makes it easy to forget when compared to some of the later tracks. But it is a gem.
"Epreuve de la Fécondida" is an amazing song. I'm not sure what technology was used to produce the melody sound. It may have been a vocoder. The tone is absolutely gorgeous when the voice moves into the higher registers. The song also has a very interesting rhythm track with a nice texture and a simple chord progression. This song is the highlight of the album for me.
"D'Ismar à Caracad" uses a similar technique for the melody, but the song uses Eastern scales and textures. The sitar sound really adds a lot to the sound.
"La Fécondida" is very interesting. Previous reviewers have compared it to Kraftwerk, and I agree. It is very much in the European electronic music tradition. The sound effects on top of the voice are a nice detail.
"L'île de Naivi" is a well-composed piece. It is full of interesting sounds and nice melodies. It is one of my favorites.
Ehma is very talented in composing electronic music. It would be nice to hear another album in this genre.
This album is ACE! It is the first album I downloaded from Jamendo several weeks ago, and it has been on my iPod's playlist ever since. I can't comment on the words because I don't understand them, but the music is well-written and fun to listen to. It sounds like folk music, but with more variety and a modern approach. The performances are a bit unprofessional in a few places, but this is easily forgiven. They are certainly more polished than any of my recordings. Listening to this album has given me the desire to use more acoustic instruments.
A few comments:
'La pauvre enfant' is among my favorites. The driving rhythm guitars reminds me of Spanish music. The guitar solo is a beautiful composition and very well-performed. Bravo!
'Des vacances comme ça...' is another favorite. The delicate chord progression and harmonized vocals during the chorus are especially nice. A very simple song - but elegant in a minimalist kind of way.
'4 Saisons' is a highlight of the album for me. It is very well-written, with a nice orchestration. The recorder is a nice touch, as is the harmonica. The passage at the very end with the two nylon-stringed guitars is probably my favorite part of the album.
'Le silence' is full of brilliant little riffs played on various instruments. The last minute or so of the song volleys back and forth between acoustic and electric guitars, a recorder, and a kazoo. All of this on top of a rhythm section which includes the sound of someone snoring. This is a fun song, and one that makes me wish I could understand Frech.
'Paris' is another high point on the album. It put a smile on my face the first time I listened to it, and my enjoyment has not diminished with repeated listening.
I did not much care for 'Chanson porno' or 'Les conciliabules', which I deleted after listening to. The remainder of '12 Petit Chants' has earned a permanent place in my music collection. Congratulations to Jean PETITJEAN for recording such a brilliant collection of songs.
Great songs. I downloaded these off of vavrek.com about 18 months ago and have been enjoying them ever since. A few specific comments:
I love the last verse of 'Sunlight' with the reverbed, stereo-panning vocal. It still gives me the chills sometimes.
'Modern Life' is a brilliant song - very well-produced.
I often sing 'Bedtime' to my toddlers as they go to sleep.
Those of you who like Andrew's style, go to his website and download the rest of his tunes. There are some real gems hiding there. Some of my favorites are 'Healing Heart', 'Hide', and 'The Secret'. Enjoy!
